Greinke stellar again as Royals top Mariners

Apr 15, 2008 - 6:09 AM
SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Zack Greinke tossed his third career
complete game and Billy Butler and Miguel Olivo each homered in
the second inning as the Kansas City Royals posted a 5-1 triumph
over the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Greinke (3-0), who threw just 107 pitches in his first complete
game since 2005, allowed one run and five hits with a walk and
four strikeouts. His effort followed a three-hit complete game
by Brian Bannister in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on
Sunday.

"It was good to see our starting pitchers go back-to-back
complete games," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Zack did a
great job out there tonight. He did what he needed to do and
hopefully continues to do."

Butler led off the second with his first home run of the season
and Olivo blasted a two-run shot later in the frame to provide
Kansas City with a 3-0 margin.

"Once we got three (runs) you really have some room to work with
and you really get a lot more comfortable out there," Greinke
said.

Butler, who has now hit safely in all 13 games this season, sent
a 1-1 offering from Jarrod Washburn (1-2) over the left-center
field wall. Jose Guillen doubled and Alex Gordon struck out
before Olivo connected on his first homer of the season.

It was plenty of offense for Greinke, who has surrendered just
two runs over his first three starts.

"Greinke came as advertised," Mariners manager John McLaren
said. "We knew he was one of the best young pitchers in the
league and we saw it. Tonight was about Greinke. He gave up
one run and I think his ERA probably went up."

After allowing Brad Wilkerson to score on Ichiro Suzuki's
groundout, Greinke retired 14 of the next 15 batters he faced.
The only hit he allowed over that span - a single by Ichiro -
was immediately followed by a double play.

"I've had more double plays in the first three games this season
than I think I had all last season," Greinke said. "And when
that happens nobody gets into scoring position and the defense
is really on their toes."

Royals catcher John Buck thinks the best is yet to come for the
young righty.

"I think he is just learning about himself and tapping into some
of his talent," Buck said. "I think he is one of those
pitchers who can be very dominant and is just now getting into
what he can do."

The 24-year-old Greinke received a little help in the eighth
from left fielder Mark Teahen, who took a two-run homer away
from Yuniesky Betancourt with a leaping catch at the wall.

Olivo, who had three hits, also scored a run in the seventh on
David DeJesus' sacrifice fly and Buck added an RBI single in the
eighth to make it 5-1.

Washburn pitched six innings, yielding three runs and six hits
with six strikeouts. He was making his first start at home this
year, but he fell to 0-7 at Safeco Field since his last victory
there on June 29, 2007.

"Wash did pretty good," Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson
said. "We felt like we could still win the game if we would get
(Greinke) into a tough situation and have somebody get a big
hit."

ALAT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATESOLO HOME RUN BY BILLY BUTLER (1) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF JARROD WASHBURN.CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1, SEATTLE 0DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J GUILLEN (.122, 0 HR, 5 RBI)